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War Stories: An Enlisted Marine In Vietnam
War Stories: An Enlisted Marine In Vietnam is a memoir of my two years in the United States Marine Corps. It tells what it was like to enlist in the Marine Corps and serve as a field radio operator with an infantry battalion. We operated near the southern edge of the DMZ in Vietnam in 1967, a time and place of intense fighting.
Most of us believe that the world is less than ideal, and that there are people and countries from whom we need to defend ourselves. The Marine Corps is an important part of that defense, but war does have its costs. When we ask so much of our Marines, we owe it to them to try to understand their sacrifice. This book can help.
Most of us believe that the world is less than ideal, and that there are people and countries from whom we need to defend ourselves. The Marine Corps is an important part of that defense, but war does have its costs. When we ask so much of our Marines, we owe it to them to try to understand their sacrifice. This book can help.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2011
15 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
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February 20, 2012
The passage of Time, The Persistence of Memory
Stephen G. MacDonald has not only written a searingly intense memoir in WAR STORIES: AN ENLISTED MARINE IN VIETNAM but he has also managed to create a book that becomes a novel, surpassing the 'memoir' classification to become an Everyman's War Experience. That is an unexpected aspect of this compelling book and one that the author may not even acknowledge. But for those of us who experienced Vietnam during the same time MacDonald served, this re-creation of how war in general and Vietnam in particular affected those who were there is as accurate and, in ways, providing a sense of camaraderie that somehow attends to the lingering anguish that time was supposed to erase.
MacDonald wisely allows the reader to grow into an understanding of who he was before Vietnam - a 19 year old committed provider for his broken needy family, working extra jobs while attending classes in college to the point of exhaustion, dropping out of school knowing that he would then be eligible for the draft (the time of the book begins in 1965 when the Vietnam 'situation' was beginning to escalate) and devising a plan of action that would offer him sufficient time to work two jobs to build a nest egg for his family before being drafted, knowing all along that he planned to enlist in the US Marines. There are many reasons for MacDonald to take us through this period of history - world and personal - that become apparent when he finally is on the battleground of Vietnam: the psychology of how he copes and responds and survives has been planted as seeds in this first part of his book.
MacDonald's narration of the Boot Camp experience is at times entertainingly funny and at other times an exposé of what the 'grunts' were required to do to give up their individuality and become brainwashed into fighting robots. He moves us slowly and assuredly through the various stages of progression toward becoming battle ready and finally describes in sharp detail the transport from the various military bases in the US to Okinawa and to Vietnam. The remainder of the book addresses the physical and emotional scars of the war, how to deal with fear and the erosion of compassion when survival takes the lead, the action of the war during 1967 - 1968 - the true peak of that heinous and misguided attack - beginning with his moving in country up the Cua Viet river to his destination in the DMZ as a field radio operator, his confrontation with struggling against urges of personal heroism defaulted to obeying orders, his momentary envy of a Marine whose battle injuries resulted in the loss of a leg and a `ticket back to the States' later recalled as a pathetic yearning to find a way to escape the horrors of the battlefield, the experience of R&R to Taipei with the attending `comforts' of physical satisfaction, etc. It is all here peppered with the lingo of the military such as `sitrepalphasierra' (`situation report all secure'), the ups and downs of friendships, the gradual elevation of rank, the interaction with the South Vietnamese - MacDonald revives all those now lost or smoky memories, allows us to relive them with him, and then brings it all to a close with his return Stateside, the last few months of `detoxifying' before his formal release from duty.
MacDonald's delivery of his well protected memories will serve as a meaningful elixir to those who served in that foolish war and hopefully will provide advice to young men who see the military as a means of making a living during these hard times: the potential threats of being a soldier have rarely been so well defined as in this fine book.
Grady Harp
Stephen G. MacDonald has not only written a searingly intense memoir in WAR STORIES: AN ENLISTED MARINE IN VIETNAM but he has also managed to create a book that becomes a novel, surpassing the 'memoir' classification to become an Everyman's War Experience. That is an unexpected aspect of this compelling book and one that the author may not even acknowledge. But for those of us who experienced Vietnam during the same time MacDonald served, this re-creation of how war in general and Vietnam in particular affected those who were there is as accurate and, in ways, providing a sense of camaraderie that somehow attends to the lingering anguish that time was supposed to erase.
MacDonald wisely allows the reader to grow into an understanding of who he was before Vietnam - a 19 year old committed provider for his broken needy family, working extra jobs while attending classes in college to the point of exhaustion, dropping out of school knowing that he would then be eligible for the draft (the time of the book begins in 1965 when the Vietnam 'situation' was beginning to escalate) and devising a plan of action that would offer him sufficient time to work two jobs to build a nest egg for his family before being drafted, knowing all along that he planned to enlist in the US Marines. There are many reasons for MacDonald to take us through this period of history - world and personal - that become apparent when he finally is on the battleground of Vietnam: the psychology of how he copes and responds and survives has been planted as seeds in this first part of his book.
MacDonald's narration of the Boot Camp experience is at times entertainingly funny and at other times an exposé of what the 'grunts' were required to do to give up their individuality and become brainwashed into fighting robots. He moves us slowly and assuredly through the various stages of progression toward becoming battle ready and finally describes in sharp detail the transport from the various military bases in the US to Okinawa and to Vietnam. The remainder of the book addresses the physical and emotional scars of the war, how to deal with fear and the erosion of compassion when survival takes the lead, the action of the war during 1967 - 1968 - the true peak of that heinous and misguided attack - beginning with his moving in country up the Cua Viet river to his destination in the DMZ as a field radio operator, his confrontation with struggling against urges of personal heroism defaulted to obeying orders, his momentary envy of a Marine whose battle injuries resulted in the loss of a leg and a `ticket back to the States' later recalled as a pathetic yearning to find a way to escape the horrors of the battlefield, the experience of R&R to Taipei with the attending `comforts' of physical satisfaction, etc. It is all here peppered with the lingo of the military such as `sitrepalphasierra' (`situation report all secure'), the ups and downs of friendships, the gradual elevation of rank, the interaction with the South Vietnamese - MacDonald revives all those now lost or smoky memories, allows us to relive them with him, and then brings it all to a close with his return Stateside, the last few months of `detoxifying' before his formal release from duty.
MacDonald's delivery of his well protected memories will serve as a meaningful elixir to those who served in that foolish war and hopefully will provide advice to young men who see the military as a means of making a living during these hard times: the potential threats of being a soldier have rarely been so well defined as in this fine book.
Grady Harp
May 17, 2020
I dislike writing reviews for memoirs, so I'll keep this short. This was interesting, eye opening, and brutally honest. If you enjoy Vietnam War era history,this would be a great read. It doesn't seem embellished or Hollywood-ized. I appreciate that the author was up front that he didn't write this to make money, but to get his history down on paper. 3 stars
March 17, 2023
Excellent.I was a USMC field radio operator in the first class that did not go 100% to Viet-Nam, 1965-1970 .I had resigned myself to certain death upon assignment of that dreaded military occupational specialty.I remember a hung over Polish Staff Sergeant reading us our orders in disbelief after graduation from RT-14 in February 1970,"You are the luckiest bunch of Motherfuckers I have ever seen.".We were the fourteenth class of Field Radio Telegraph Operators to graduate year to date in 1970.
I never heard war stories from the Marines I served with.They never talked about it.I know why,now.They lived my nightmares.It's quite disconcerting.
This book is truth.It is also very engaging and entertaining at times.
I never heard war stories from the Marines I served with.They never talked about it.I know why,now.They lived my nightmares.It's quite disconcerting.
This book is truth.It is also very engaging and entertaining at times.
February 4, 2018
Welcome home!
I was there in '66_'67. The author tells his experiences in Vietnam. He brings back many memories. The reader will feel what he lived through. Many of us will truly understand.
Thank you ALL veterans for your service ! For all that were greeted so coldly upon your homecoming a sincere Welcome home.
I was there in '66_'67. The author tells his experiences in Vietnam. He brings back many memories. The reader will feel what he lived through. Many of us will truly understand.
Thank you ALL veterans for your service ! For all that were greeted so coldly upon your homecoming a sincere Welcome home.
February 5, 2018
I found this to be an honest, truthful memory of Vietnam written by a young person who was lucky enough to survive it ---- was to good it was difficult to put down and even found myself thinking that this should be required reading by EVERY high school student! Well written, interesting – based on his experiences and how he truly and really felt about serving his country!
February 5, 2018
Very interesting and honest account of Vietnam
The book was written by an enlisted Marine who provided an excellent account of his experience and would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in The Marine Corps and Vietnam.
The book was written by an enlisted Marine who provided an excellent account of his experience and would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in The Marine Corps and Vietnam.
February 23, 2018
Insightful
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads giveaway program. My father was Vietnam veteran and died before I could really ask him what it was like. This book may have given me some idea. Thank you to the author for wrotting it .
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads giveaway program. My father was Vietnam veteran and died before I could really ask him what it was like. This book may have given me some idea. Thank you to the author for wrotting it .
July 27, 2018
Yes it is a good book I will recommend it to anyone that likes to read these kind of books
The book was well written and will be read again and again by me .and I am sure that others will read it more than once.
The book was well written and will be read again and again by me .and I am sure that others will read it more than once.
February 10, 2018
Interesting perspective on what an enlisted marine went through in Vietnam. Basically a diary. Good read.
February 12, 2018
Yaaaawn, preachy “we have to worship the military” type crap.
February 18, 2018
#GoodreadsGiveaway
April 8, 2018
Unsung hero
Good honest book about the frequently dangerous day to day life of a marine radio operator in vietnam.
Also sometimes performed under internally, bogus conditions.
Good honest book about the frequently dangerous day to day life of a marine radio operator in vietnam.
Also sometimes performed under internally, bogus conditions.
July 16, 2018
Goodreads giveaway
January 3, 2020
Always nice to read about a real experience. I thought it was good and had a lot of emotion. Had a few unnecessary parts or some too lengthy details but overall good.
March 12, 2012
There is, without question, for most young men, a kind of fascination with war and the opportunity it offers to test one's manhood. Nineteen year-old Steve MacDonald frankly states early on in his memoir of the Vietnam war that he enlisted because he "wanted to know what it was like to go to war." He also notes that he came from a family that was closely connected with the Marine Corps, so, in a sense, he was also carrying on a family tradition. An ex-Catholic (what the Church would call "fallen away"), MacDonald makes it clear on more than one occasion that his only religion was an uneasy belief in the fickle god of Luck. At one point he comments that the only time he even thought about praying was when he paused for a moment inside a small Buddhist temple while on a patrol through a deserted village in the DMZ.
"It did feel like a holy place ... It seemed to be showing the way to peace, to a serenity that made me want to join in the prayer or contemplation. Being there was the closest I'd come to praying for a long time."
MacDonald guides you ably through the trials of boot camp at Parris Island, then advanced training as a field radio operator, survival training in California and, finally, his overseas deployment to WESTPAC. In Okinawa he quickly and awkwardly divests himself of the burden of his virginity with a prostitute, an act that was over before he'd even finished negotiating the terms. Then on to Vietnam where he is assigned to a Headquarters and Supply unit, which would have been a fairly safe berth. But, unwilling to settle for this "REMF" assignment, MacDonald volunteers for several assignments with infantry line units and does his time in the bush, dodging sniper fire and coming under frequent enemy shelling. After one particularly close call from "friendly fire," a white-faced MacDonald tells a friend, "I wouldn't want to be in the North Vietnamese Army. It must be a bitch getting bombed all the time." A statement which seems to reveal at least a remnant of his former naivete and boyish innocence.
Everthing about a combat memoir is here - the mud, the misery, the fear and excitement, an R&R to Taipei, and, finally, the flight home, back to "the world." And it's a world that is hostile and unwelcoming to the returning veteran, as so many Vietnam vets discovered during the unhappy decade our troops spent in the quagmire of that ultimately unwinnable war.
In the final analysis, while MacDonald does a good job of describing "what it was like to go to war," his narrative in WAR STORIES often seems curiously flat and emotionless. Scenes of firefights, grisly maimings and deaths fell slightly short of showing the reader how truly horrifying it must have really been. I wondered if the forty years the author has spent turning those long-ago experiences over and over in his mind, trying to make sense of them, somehow removed the passion from this recounting. Or perhaps, as he suggests himself, he is still suffering from PTSD, still wrestling with it all, unable or unwilling to face the actual demons of such a traumatic experience.
While reading MacDonald's book, I naturally thought of other Vietnam books I have read over the years. One that came to mind almost immediately was Karl Marlantes's recent bestselling novel, MATTERHORN, which was followed a year later by his non-fiction personal account and study of war with a title oddly similar to MacDonald's reason for enlisting, WHAT IT IS LIKE TO GO TO WAR. Stephen MacDonald could have used the same title for his book. He served honorably. One wonders if he knows yet, clearly, exactly what it means to go to war, and what, finally, its cost.
- Tim Bazzett, author of the Cold War memoir, SOLDIER BOY: AT PLAY IN THE ASA
"It did feel like a holy place ... It seemed to be showing the way to peace, to a serenity that made me want to join in the prayer or contemplation. Being there was the closest I'd come to praying for a long time."
MacDonald guides you ably through the trials of boot camp at Parris Island, then advanced training as a field radio operator, survival training in California and, finally, his overseas deployment to WESTPAC. In Okinawa he quickly and awkwardly divests himself of the burden of his virginity with a prostitute, an act that was over before he'd even finished negotiating the terms. Then on to Vietnam where he is assigned to a Headquarters and Supply unit, which would have been a fairly safe berth. But, unwilling to settle for this "REMF" assignment, MacDonald volunteers for several assignments with infantry line units and does his time in the bush, dodging sniper fire and coming under frequent enemy shelling. After one particularly close call from "friendly fire," a white-faced MacDonald tells a friend, "I wouldn't want to be in the North Vietnamese Army. It must be a bitch getting bombed all the time." A statement which seems to reveal at least a remnant of his former naivete and boyish innocence.
Everthing about a combat memoir is here - the mud, the misery, the fear and excitement, an R&R to Taipei, and, finally, the flight home, back to "the world." And it's a world that is hostile and unwelcoming to the returning veteran, as so many Vietnam vets discovered during the unhappy decade our troops spent in the quagmire of that ultimately unwinnable war.
In the final analysis, while MacDonald does a good job of describing "what it was like to go to war," his narrative in WAR STORIES often seems curiously flat and emotionless. Scenes of firefights, grisly maimings and deaths fell slightly short of showing the reader how truly horrifying it must have really been. I wondered if the forty years the author has spent turning those long-ago experiences over and over in his mind, trying to make sense of them, somehow removed the passion from this recounting. Or perhaps, as he suggests himself, he is still suffering from PTSD, still wrestling with it all, unable or unwilling to face the actual demons of such a traumatic experience.
While reading MacDonald's book, I naturally thought of other Vietnam books I have read over the years. One that came to mind almost immediately was Karl Marlantes's recent bestselling novel, MATTERHORN, which was followed a year later by his non-fiction personal account and study of war with a title oddly similar to MacDonald's reason for enlisting, WHAT IT IS LIKE TO GO TO WAR. Stephen MacDonald could have used the same title for his book. He served honorably. One wonders if he knows yet, clearly, exactly what it means to go to war, and what, finally, its cost.
- Tim Bazzett, author of the Cold War memoir, SOLDIER BOY: AT PLAY IN THE ASA
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June 3, 2012Reason for Reading: I enjoy first hand war accounts. I'm a firm supporter of our troops and being an ex Army wife allows me a very small insiders knowledge of what servicemen are speaking of and what those left at home go through.
Steve MacDonald has not written the great American novel but he has written the great story of his life. MacDonald is a natural writer with a storyteller's voice which is very easy to read and puts you right there with him. He is writing of something that happened many years ago in his past and writes in a first person past tense as he describes events as they occurred but with the hindsight of a now grown man telling of a young 19/20 year old's actions and thoughts.
I like Stephen. He is a nice guy. As a 19yo enlisting in the Marines in 1965 he was a kind of naive that doesn't exist in our teenagers/young people of today and in that sense he brings back a time when people actually did believe in fighting for one's country. He has many experiences in his early days of basic training and in Vietnam that accentuate this "doing the right thing" and his innocence. One such episode that reinforces this is his mention of being a virgin, and having expected to be so until he married, but once in Vietnam, on a weekend leave he took care of that because he didn't want to die without "having known a woman".
I really enjoyed the whole basic training story; it's the usual tearing you apart and then rebuilding you up, learning to be a team not an individual but MacDonald tells his story in a very readable, almost novel-like voice and the whole book is full of anecdotes, some hilarious, some sombre. Stephen's tale of serving in Vietnam for 13 months is the story of one man's war but probably also the story of everyman's war as well. With no great deeds of heroism attached to his name, nor exposure to hideously horrendous horrors he still saw his share of terror, friends being blown apart, exposure to Agent Orange, received one Purple Heart for a small wound he was embarrassed of (comparatively). This all changed the innocent 19yo who enlisted because he wanted to be a Marine and serve his country as two generations of his family before him did. Serving his tour of duty, he returned a combat hardened 21yo who had experienced death and crippling fear only to return to a country that offered no thanks for the service he had given. However, even though MacDonald ends the book with his homecoming he does not seem to have become embittered as his book is written with a light touch, even though there are parts where he expresses annoyance or anger at military hierarchy, the "hurry up and wait" attitude and the often senseless loss of life. Stephen still comes across as a nice guy, one you would like to sit down with and listen to some of his war stories. A well-written and engaging book with an insightful look at the everyday life of a radio operator in Vietnam. Thank you for your service Mr. MacDonald and thank you also for sharing your personal story.
Steve MacDonald has not written the great American novel but he has written the great story of his life. MacDonald is a natural writer with a storyteller's voice which is very easy to read and puts you right there with him. He is writing of something that happened many years ago in his past and writes in a first person past tense as he describes events as they occurred but with the hindsight of a now grown man telling of a young 19/20 year old's actions and thoughts.
I like Stephen. He is a nice guy. As a 19yo enlisting in the Marines in 1965 he was a kind of naive that doesn't exist in our teenagers/young people of today and in that sense he brings back a time when people actually did believe in fighting for one's country. He has many experiences in his early days of basic training and in Vietnam that accentuate this "doing the right thing" and his innocence. One such episode that reinforces this is his mention of being a virgin, and having expected to be so until he married, but once in Vietnam, on a weekend leave he took care of that because he didn't want to die without "having known a woman".
I really enjoyed the whole basic training story; it's the usual tearing you apart and then rebuilding you up, learning to be a team not an individual but MacDonald tells his story in a very readable, almost novel-like voice and the whole book is full of anecdotes, some hilarious, some sombre. Stephen's tale of serving in Vietnam for 13 months is the story of one man's war but probably also the story of everyman's war as well. With no great deeds of heroism attached to his name, nor exposure to hideously horrendous horrors he still saw his share of terror, friends being blown apart, exposure to Agent Orange, received one Purple Heart for a small wound he was embarrassed of (comparatively). This all changed the innocent 19yo who enlisted because he wanted to be a Marine and serve his country as two generations of his family before him did. Serving his tour of duty, he returned a combat hardened 21yo who had experienced death and crippling fear only to return to a country that offered no thanks for the service he had given. However, even though MacDonald ends the book with his homecoming he does not seem to have become embittered as his book is written with a light touch, even though there are parts where he expresses annoyance or anger at military hierarchy, the "hurry up and wait" attitude and the often senseless loss of life. Stephen still comes across as a nice guy, one you would like to sit down with and listen to some of his war stories. A well-written and engaging book with an insightful look at the everyday life of a radio operator in Vietnam. Thank you for your service Mr. MacDonald and thank you also for sharing your personal story.
December 26, 2011
I wrote this memoir and think it's good, but then I guess I wouldn't have published it if I didn't think so. I haven't gotten up the money yet for an independent review like Kirkus or Foreword Clarion, but all the feedback I've gotten so far (all from people who know me) has been positive. If you want to be an early adopter (today is December 26, 2011) go for it. You will probably like it, and you will be able to say that you were one of the earliest readers. The rest of this is from the book's page on Amazon.com.
War Stories: An Enlisted Marine In Vietnam is a memoir of my two years in the United States Marine Corps. It tells what it was like to enlist in the Marine Corps and serve as a field radio operator with an infantry battalion. We operated near the southern edge of the DMZ in Vietnam in 1967, a time and place of intense fighting. It took forty years of writing and rewriting to distill that two years into this book, because it took that long for me to become this honest about my experience. It has been worth the wait; none of the earlier versions were as good as this one.
A must read for anyone considering enlistment in the Marine Corps. Informed consent is better for both the enlistee and the Marine Corps.
A must read for Marine officers, both commissioned and non-commissioned. You cannot read this book, and think about it, without becoming better at your job.
A must read for family members of Marines. You will understand your Marine better.
A must read for every citizen of the United States. Most of us believe that the world is less than ideal, and that there are people and countries out there from whom we need to defend ourselves. Marines and the Marine Corps are an important part of that defense. When we ask so much of our Marines, we owe it to them to try to understand what it could be like for them. A common reaction by early readers has been something like, "I had no idea it was like that."
War Stories: An Enlisted Marine In Vietnam is a memoir of my two years in the United States Marine Corps. It tells what it was like to enlist in the Marine Corps and serve as a field radio operator with an infantry battalion. We operated near the southern edge of the DMZ in Vietnam in 1967, a time and place of intense fighting. It took forty years of writing and rewriting to distill that two years into this book, because it took that long for me to become this honest about my experience. It has been worth the wait; none of the earlier versions were as good as this one.
A must read for anyone considering enlistment in the Marine Corps. Informed consent is better for both the enlistee and the Marine Corps.
A must read for Marine officers, both commissioned and non-commissioned. You cannot read this book, and think about it, without becoming better at your job.
A must read for family members of Marines. You will understand your Marine better.
A must read for every citizen of the United States. Most of us believe that the world is less than ideal, and that there are people and countries out there from whom we need to defend ourselves. Marines and the Marine Corps are an important part of that defense. When we ask so much of our Marines, we owe it to them to try to understand what it could be like for them. A common reaction by early readers has been something like, "I had no idea it was like that."
February 18, 2012
...War Stories: An Enlisted Marine In Vietnam was a very interesting recount of Mr. MacDonald's journey from a young naive college student to an enlisted Marine in Vietnam. I was intrigued by how well the author was able to tell this story, how it built up and pulled you in. I enjoyed it yet I didnt think I was it's target audience, so I gave it to my father whole was in Vietnam, was drafted into the military after college baseball season was over with and he had stopped going. He Loved it... he said that it was nice to have someone actually take their time and get the feeling right. The feeling of being a young man thrust into the situation of wartime events. I also brought it into my Nursing Home and let a Retired USMC Colonel that stays with us read it and he said that "a good soldier takes his time to get it right". Which I took as his way of saying he enjoyed it as well.
Good Job
Very, VERY excited to read this book
Good Job
Very, VERY excited to read this book
February 7, 2014
An interesting tale of the voyage from being a civilian, through the rigour of serving a tour in Vietnam with the Marines, and then the difficult return to the world.
We are given an insight, not merely to the short training process to create an order-obeying platoon member, but also to some of his thoughts as he buckles down to try to become a good Marine. The account, although personal, has objectivity. It all rings true and is well worth a read.
The only downside I felt was the lack of passion. The delivery is rather too flat, especially for such dramatic events as the patrols and fire-fights in country. This may be due to the fact that the book has taken forty years to write and thus loses some of its immediacy.
All in all, misson accomplished, and if no Medal of Honour winner it is well worth a mention in dispatches.
We are given an insight, not merely to the short training process to create an order-obeying platoon member, but also to some of his thoughts as he buckles down to try to become a good Marine. The account, although personal, has objectivity. It all rings true and is well worth a read.
The only downside I felt was the lack of passion. The delivery is rather too flat, especially for such dramatic events as the patrols and fire-fights in country. This may be due to the fact that the book has taken forty years to write and thus loses some of its immediacy.
All in all, misson accomplished, and if no Medal of Honour winner it is well worth a mention in dispatches.
August 23, 2015
This is one of those rare books whose scenes and words remain in the forefront of my consciousness well after I've put the book down. That scene where the forward observer leaps up in surprise, fishing around for his wound, then dies, somehow struck me as the most shocking event in the story: for me it epitomized how quickly, easily and nearly randomly someone could be struck down in war. Beyond that, the entirety of Macdonald's tale is powerfully and eloquently told. I identified with him easily. I entered the Corps almost exactly twenty years after he did and for just about the same reasons. I was luckier than him, obviously - Vietnam was long in the past. The final chapter is arguably the best. I won't give it away in case you haven't read it, but I think it's a rare reader who wouldn't understand why Madonald did what he did.
November 15, 2012
Where have all the good men gone? Mr. MacDonald writes an admiral story of his time as an active duty Marine during a war our country barely acknowledged. Though many might discredit this Veteran for having served only two years,yet he puts forth the same questions and statements he was faced with then that our military families deal with on a regular bases.
As the daughter of a Retired Navy Chief and longtime wife of a Navy Chief, I really related to many of the words within this book. This isn't a book you think about reading, this is a book you need to be reading.
First Reads book.
March 18, 2014
Great book about the nam.
Only a grunt radio operator could have penned such a powerful and honest book based on personal observations. It had to be the hardest thing ever to put pen to paper, all those awful memories. The author shows his compassion for everybody he has encountered by not condemning those, who would choose to go to Canada rather than fight in Vietnam, among others. He writes very eloquently about the marine corps brotherhood and the officer corps, who continually dogged him. I hope he has found peace in life and because of his book, a Vietnam vet, reading this book will find solace, knowing someone else had similar experiences. Welcome home.
Only a grunt radio operator could have penned such a powerful and honest book based on personal observations. It had to be the hardest thing ever to put pen to paper, all those awful memories. The author shows his compassion for everybody he has encountered by not condemning those, who would choose to go to Canada rather than fight in Vietnam, among others. He writes very eloquently about the marine corps brotherhood and the officer corps, who continually dogged him. I hope he has found peace in life and because of his book, a Vietnam vet, reading this book will find solace, knowing someone else had similar experiences. Welcome home.
November 25, 2012
This was a goodreads book won by a friend of mine. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to read this book and share with my friends. I needed to read this book. It gave me a much greater understanding of my husband who also served during Vietnam. Most Veterans of Vietnam do not share their experiences. Maybe they would rather forget. I don't know. I just know this is a story that needed to be written and I am thankful that I had a chance to read one Marine's account of his experiences from being drafted to the end of his enlistment during the Vietnam War.
April 26, 2015
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway awhile ago and I finally had time to sit down with this book. I am quite thankful that I read it. Quite inspiring. The author write about why he joined the Marines, his experiences and his time in the War.
Not having anyone, or knowing anyone personally who served, war is often something you only see on TV, something that doesn't directly effect me. This book definitely put that into perspective.
Thank you for serving. I really do appreciate all that you have done!
Not having anyone, or knowing anyone personally who served, war is often something you only see on TV, something that doesn't directly effect me. This book definitely put that into perspective.
Thank you for serving. I really do appreciate all that you have done!
June 25, 2022
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. This is the first thing I've read by the author.
This is a very straight forward narrative of the author's experience from the time he left college and signed up for the draft until he came home. Obviously it isn't a day to day retelling, but it covers the events that were important to the author. The tell feels very authentic and makes no excuses for the way he felt during his stint in the Marines. Even though this is a self published memoir and the author admits he's not a professional, I found this book to be a great read with a good pace.
This is a very straight forward narrative of the author's experience from the time he left college and signed up for the draft until he came home. Obviously it isn't a day to day retelling, but it covers the events that were important to the author. The tell feels very authentic and makes no excuses for the way he felt during his stint in the Marines. Even though this is a self published memoir and the author admits he's not a professional, I found this book to be a great read with a good pace.
February 15, 2012
won through firstreads giveaways
Honest account of a young man entering into the marines during Vietnam. MR. MacDonald writes as he remembers it through the eyes of 19 year old as he drops out of college and enters into training and getting sent to war. Reading this it's interesting to see how at the beginning he thinks he has it all planned out, naive even, but as time and events happen his view and attitude changes. Worthwhile read.
Honest account of a young man entering into the marines during Vietnam. MR. MacDonald writes as he remembers it through the eyes of 19 year old as he drops out of college and enters into training and getting sent to war. Reading this it's interesting to see how at the beginning he thinks he has it all planned out, naive even, but as time and events happen his view and attitude changes. Worthwhile read.
June 2, 2014
Very Enjoyable
I really enjoyed Mr MacDonald's book. The book isn't a 5 star in the sense of a NY Bestselling Book but a very good an insightful read. It begins from his college days, to Marine Corps basic training (I always wondered how so many men took a crap so fast?), to his time in Vietnam.
Some editing errors but MacDonald addresses them early on with hid frank honesty. Those didn't takeaway from reading this book.
Recommended. I'd purchase again...highest praise.
I really enjoyed Mr MacDonald's book. The book isn't a 5 star in the sense of a NY Bestselling Book but a very good an insightful read. It begins from his college days, to Marine Corps basic training (I always wondered how so many men took a crap so fast?), to his time in Vietnam.
Some editing errors but MacDonald addresses them early on with hid frank honesty. Those didn't takeaway from reading this book.
Recommended. I'd purchase again...highest praise.
December 25, 2012
Good Read about Vietnam experiences of a Marine in the 60's. The author takes us through why he joined up, his experiences in boot camp and his life in the War.
I thought it was interesting to get his personal perspective on the war.
I liked it!
I thought it was interesting to get his personal perspective on the war.
I liked it!
April 4, 2015
Very good story
I really enjoyed reading this story. It makes you appreciate the sacrifices soldiers and marines made for our country. Well written and takes you to where the writer was and see what he saw. I enjoyed reading this book.
I really enjoyed reading this story. It makes you appreciate the sacrifices soldiers and marines made for our country. Well written and takes you to where the writer was and see what he saw. I enjoyed reading this book.
April 28, 2012
great book with a lot of emotion
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